Schleswig-holstein High Court Orders New Trial for Deputy Who Defended Murderer of Jews

July 14, 1950

HAMBURG (Jul. 13)

The Schleswig-Helstoin Suporier Court today reversed the decision of a lower court and ordered a new trial for Welfgang Hedler, German rightist deputy, who was acquitted in February of charges of incitement to racial hatred.

Hedler’s prosecution was based on a public speech he made during which he declared: “Opinion may be divided over whether it was right to poison Jews with gas (during the Nazi regime.) There may have been other means of getting rid of the Jews.” The acquittal aroused a sterm of protest throughout Gormany and other countries and he was physically thrown out of the Bonn Parliament by other deputies when he attempted to take his seat.